Pocket-held container

ABSTRACT

A molded plastic container with a living hinge has a first flat round side and a second domed round side which fold together to form a container having a maximum edge dimension that is less than one-half its maximum center dimension. A thumb tab facilitates opening of the container to access the articles or material contained therein. The domed side fits comfortably in the user&#39;s hand and in her/his hip pocket.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a container for articles ormaterial. More particularly, the present invention is directed to acontainer which more comfortably fits in an owner's hand and pocket.

[0002] The pocket held container may be used to transport virtuallyanything its owner wants to secure in her/his pocket or pocketbook:candy, change, keys, orthodontic retainers. The container was, however,originally designed as a carrier for chopped tobacco products morecommonly known as snuff/chewing tobacco. Snuff typically comes in ashort cylindrical can that is carried in a hip pocket or breast pocketof the user. When carried in the hip pocket, the container is anuisance, poking the user in her/his backside and eventually stretchingthe fabric to produce a tell-tale circle on the pocket's outer surface.Further, the can is typically two pieces, making its opening, removal ofa serving of tobacco, and refastening of the lid, a “three-handed”proposition.

[0003] The improved plastic molded container of the present inventionaddresses the problems with the prior art. The container has a firstround face with a lateral wall that is flat and a second round face witha dome-shaped wall, the second round face being connected by a livinghinge to the first face. The living hinge remedies the problemsassociated with handling two piece cans. At least one of the two facesis equipped with a tab to facilitate opening of the container. Morepreferably, each face is equipped with a short tab which permits a thumband forefinger to produce a twisting motion which opens the container.The maximum vertical dimension at the outer edge of the container isless than one-half the maximum dimension in the center. This container,being marketed under the trademark COMFORT CAN, fits comfortably in thepalm of the hand as well as fitting more easily into one's pocket.

[0004] Other features, advantages and characteristics of the presentinvention will become apparent after a reading of the followingspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention are setforth in the drawings, like items bearing like reference numerals and inwhich

[0006]FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the container ofthe present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a back view of the first embodiment;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the first embodiment shown inthe open position;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the first embodiment shown in the openposition; and

[0010]FIG. 5 is a side view of the first embodiment shown in the openposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0011] A first embodiment of the pocket-held container products is shownin FIGS. 1-5 generally at 20. Snuff container 20, marketed under thetrademark COMFORT CAN, includes a first round side 22 with a flatlateral wall 24 and a first peripheral wall portion 26 projecting upwardfrom the outer edge of lateral wall 24. Peripheral wall portion 26 has afirst height h, and a first maximum diameter d₁ with an indentation 28formed therein on a front portion 27 thereof.

[0012] A second round side 32 has a domed lateral wall 34 and a secondperipheral wall portion 36 projecting upward from the outer edge oflateral wall 34. Second peripheral wall portion 36 has a second heighth₂ and a second maximum diameter d₂ equal to first maximum diameter d₁.In this embodiment, second peripheral wall portion 36 has a thirdperipheral wall portion 37 attached thereto. It will be appreciated thatthird peripheral wall portion 37 could be adjunct to first peripheralwall portion 26. Third peripheral wall portion 37 has a third height h₃and a maximum diameter d₃ that is less than that of first (d₁) andsecond (d₂) lateral wall portions such that wall portion 37 cantelescope into first peripheral wall portion 26. Third height h₃ isequal to or less than or equal to first height h₁.

[0013] A second indentation 38 is formed in maximum diameter d₂ at aposition on second lateral wall portion 36 to correspond to the positionof first indentation 28 in first lateral wall portion 26. A thirdindentation 39 is formed in third peripheral wall portion 37 andfrictionally engages first indentation 28 to retain snuff container 20in a closed configuration. Living hinge 40 is formed integrally withfirst lateral wall portion 26 and second lateral wall portion 36 topermit second side 32 to fold toward and away from first side 22. Afirst finger tab 42F is formed in first indentation 28 which has an edge44 that does not protrude beyond maximum diameter d₁ of first round side22, that is, the lateral extent of tab 42F is less than the depth ofindentation 28. A second finger tab 42D is formed in second indentation38 and is laterally offset from first tab 42L such that the user may,while holding container 20 with the domed wall 34 in the palm of onehand, engage first (42F) and second (42D) tabs with thumb andforefinger, respectively, with a twisting motion that will pop thecontainer 20 open.

[0014] The dome shape of lateral wall 34 is shaped such that the firstthickness t₁ (FIG. 2) is less than half the maximum thickness t₂ at thecenter of snuff container 20 and, more preferably is 40% of the centerheight. Snuff container 20 fits comfortably in a hip pocket withoutdistressing the fabric as previous cans did. Further, the dome shapefits comfortably in the user's hand.

[0015] To use container 20 of the present invention, domed side 32 isplaced in the palm of one hand. The thumb of the opposite hand engagesfirst tab 42F and the forefinger tab 42D and slight twisting pressureexerted to open container 20. Whatever the owner wishes to place in thecan may be placed in the domed side 34 and the container closed. If theowner wishes to transfer the contents of a snuff can to the container20, the dome-shaped side 32 is placed over an open side of a cancontaining the product to be transferred, the assembly inverted dumpingthe snuff into domed side 32 of container 20. First side 22 is thenpivoted toward second side 32 by means of living hinge 40 so that thirdlateral wall portion 37 telescopes into first lateral wall portion 26sealing a peripheral portion of container 20. Third indentation 39frictionally engages first indentation 28 to secure the container 20closed.

[0016] Various changes, alternatives and modifications will becomeapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art following a reading of theforegoing specification. It is intended that all such changes,alternatives and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims be considered part of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A pocket-held container comprising a) a first round sidewith a first lateral wall that is flat with a first peripheral wallportion extending upwardly there from, said first peripheral wallportion having a first height h₁ which has a first maximum diameter d₁;b) a second round side with a second lateral wall that is dome shapedwith a second peripheral wall portion extending upwardly there from,said second peripheral wall portion having a second height h₂ which hasa second maximum diameter d₂ equal to said first maximum diameter d₁; c)a second peripheral wall portion associated with one of said first andsecond peripheral walls having a third height h₃ and a third maximumdiameter d₃, said third maximum diameter d₃ being less than said firstand second maximum diameters (d₁ and d₂) and telescoping with said otherof said second and first peripheral walls to seal a peripheral portionof said container; c) a living hinge integral with a section of each ofsaid first and second peripheral wall portions interconnecting saidfirst round side with said second round side and permitting said firstand second round sides to be folded toward one another to form a closedcontainer that has a first maximum edge thickness t₁ that is less thanhalf of a second maximum center thickness t₂; whereby said closedcontainer fits comfortably within the pocket of its owner causingsignificantly less bulging of the pocket's fabric.
 2. The pocket-heldcontainer of claim 1 further comprising a first indentation in saidfirst peripheral wall portion and a second indentation in said secondperipheral wall portion which coincides with said first indentation insaid first peripheral wall portion, a third indentation in said thirdperipheral wall portion, at least a section of each of said first andthird indentations telescoping and frictionally engaging to secure saidcontainer in a closed position.
 3. The pocket-held container of claim 2further comprising a finger tab associated with one of said first andsecond indentations to facilitate opening of said container, said fingertab having a first lateral edge which protrudes outwardly from saidfirst and second indentations in said first and second peripheral wallportions for manual engagement.
 4. The pocket-held container of claim 3wherein said first lateral edge protrudes a distance less than a depthof said first and second indentations.
 5. The pocket-held container ofclaim 1 wherein said first maximum thickness t₁ is 40% of said secondmaximum thickness t₂.